Eustis families return home on foot as repairs continue on collapsed bridge

EUSTIS, Fla. - Two weeks after a bridge in Eustis partially collapsed, crews have made significant progress restoring the vital crossing that connects 21 homes to the main road. 

The once-gaping hole in the bridge has been filled, allowing residents of Spring Ridge Estates to walk across again, though cars are still barred from using it until paving and final repairs are complete. 

The backstory:

Many families are returning home after a bridge collapse displaced around 21 homes. 

The bridge collapse occurred during a severe storm that swept through the area, damaging the only road connecting several homes. The water and power were cut to the homes when the bridge collapsed and one family says when the water turned back on, their home flooded. 

For most families, the repaired bridge means sleeping in their own beds again — except for one, whose home was flooded when water service was restored.

One family unable to return

Dig deeper:

Kristin Clark is the mother of 16-year-old Jason, and she said her son has special needs, so evacuating from their home when the bridge collapsed was tough enough, especially with the water and electricity shut off.

"It was stressful. The nurses were stressed out. I was stressed out. He’s got 24/7 nursing, said Clark. "He’s got chronic lung disease which affects his breathing, so that’s very important that we grab all the oxygen supplies that he needs. He has a rare seizure disorder also, so we had to get all of his medications."

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First responders helped get Jason from his home and his eight-year-old little sister. Jade Toledo said the evacuation was messy.

"I was trying to pack up some of my stuff too, so I would have some clothes," said Toledo. "They got Jason out on the stretcher."

For nearly two weeks, Jason and his family have been staying in hotels and when they finally were able to come back home, Clark said she didn’t know the water was turned back on, so she walked into a soaking wet home.

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"Make a Wish did a room for him in the downstairs living room," said Clark. "Everything is going to have to be stripped and everything is going to have to be thrown out."

While other families are back in their homes, Clark says she doesn’t know when her family will be able to return.

"With somebody that’s got severe chronic lung disease, you’re not coming back to this house until it’s cleaned out," said Clark. "You got to do restoration."

What you can do:

Clark has started a GoFundMe for her family. You can contribute through this link.